Pentecost

Well, we've had some busy weeks including one with my parents here! We really enjoyed their visit and had some great day trips from here. So, I'll probably try to post some of those pictures eventually : ).
For today though, I wanted to share something quite amazing that took place today. As most of you know, we've been attending the International Protestant Church (IPC) here. Basically, it's an English-speaking church encompassing various protestant denominations. We've really enjoyed getting to know the wonderful people in the church and the pastor is very nice. Today though, we celebrated Pentecost by having the story of Pentecost read initially in English and then had about 10 people stand up and read the rest of the verses in their native language. Thus depicting what it must have sounded like that first Pentecost! Imagine all these different languages reading at once and just being able to listen. (As opposed to being in the supermarket hoping to over-hear someone speaking English to ask a translation question!)
It really was moving hearing that all at once in that setting. Just thought I'd share : ).
Happy Pentecost everyone!

Three's a crowd?

Ariel has officially made a come back this Spring! We discovered that we did, in fact, bring an inflatable pool for the kids to play in here. So we blew up the purple ring of fun and filled it up with water warm enough for all three kids! It was a bit "snug", but they were all having fun splashing. Cayden doesn't have a whole lot of sit in him, but I'm hoping he get's a bit more content in there as we use it more.
For those of you interested in house details here, the pool has been set up on the patio / porch running the length of most of the house - or the living room area on the main floor. There's a door leading in to the kitchen at the end where the pool is and I took the picture from there towards the road. There's also steps going down to the garden (yard) from that end, as well. It's worked out pretty well, so far, because I can set Cayden in his highchair in the kitchen with me while I get supper ready so we can keep an eye on the older two through the doorway.
Hope you're all enjoying the nice weather this week too!

Yes, we had our first visitors from the States and the kids were thrilled! Of course, they're always happy to see their grandparents, but seeing them after so long... it was just something very special. We all had a wonderful time during Grandma and Poppa Roosien's visit. We tried to pace ourselves with some busy days and some more relaxed days around the house so they could "endure" our everyday craziness and also enjoy some of the sights of Europe while here. Amongst those were a day trip to the Netherlands where we visited some of the "homelands" of family. We also went downtown to the Grand Platz to see the architecture and have a gooey waffle : ). Then we had a great vacation down to Southern Germany and Austria to see some castles there. The kids did fairly well for the most part, but they were definately ready to come home.
We're now getting back into the swing of things as Mikayla's spring break has come to an end. You're reminded of another "difference" with that too when people talk about their holidays to Southern France, Florence for a week, or a cruise in Spain rather than going to Florida or Alabama!

The Way Things Are...

So, besides those pleasant afternoons enjoying family time in the sunshine touring beautiful sights in Europe, there are those many more days of reality in between. Yesterday was one of those days. This is long, but you might appreciate it - in some sick way!
Let me set the stage:
- The kids have been sick with bad colds all weekend - coughs and high fevers.
- Keegan has picked up the bad habit with this cold of being over-sensitive and coughing hard enough to make himself vomit.
- We have met the doctor we've chosen here once, very nice, British (Speaks English).
- The doctor's office is located not far from here in a nice little town called, La Hulpe, which is a French commune.
- I speak exactly three words of French - Bon jour, Merci, and Wie.
- The town has narrow winding streets with cars parallel-parked on both sides.
- The main road is quite busy and also where the doctor's office is located.
Now, that's a lot of detail, but it will make sense as the story unfolds.
Yesterday morning I called the doctor to inform her that the kids are very ill and I'd like her to see them. We make arrangements for an appointment that afternoon. I get all three kids down for a nap before going, but Keegan doesn't fall asleep right away. So, I have to wake him up after a short-hour nap to take him to the doctor. We make it there fine and the Lord blessed us with a parking place somewhat near the office that I can just drive into rather than parallel-park. I have concerns it's in a school pick-up zone, but risk it. Now, Belgians are only in a hurry when they're behind the wheel of a car. So you can imagine I was making friends unloading three kids from carseats on the busy, narrow road! We made it to the office where Mikayla made herself at home touching and playing with everything possible. Keegan whined the whole time - again, short nap, not feeling well. Cayden did ok because I was holding him. Thought it was going to be a quick trip, so I carried him instead of taking a stroller. So, after determining they have sinus and ear infections, the doctor writes out thorough simple directions for me to give them the medicine she's prescribing. Then, informs me that you can just walk down the street to the pharmacy, hand them the prescription forms, pay, and be done. So, as I'm gathering up the kids, including Keegan who's let himself out the office door, I decide to chance the French-speaking pharmacy up the road since we're all out of the car already. How bad can it be? (FAMOUS LAST WORDS!)
Begin the trek to the pharmacy. Must cross the busy road - find a cross-walk. Wait for a car to actually stop for us amongst the traffic rolling by. Blocking our path on the sidewalk is a group of people talking with about six little dogs. You all know my kids are dog-lovers.... managed to get them through the crowd and down the sidewalk without touching or asking to touch any animals. (I'm still carrying Cayden.)
Enter pharmacy. There are four pharmasists and probably four other patrons in the tiny little store all speaking French. I have try to have the kids sit in a chair and that lasts all of 29 seconds. So I have them sit by my feet while I try to get the meds. (Remember, they're not feeling well, haven't been exerting themselves all weekend, and now are tired out from a walk besides.) So, I have a lady filling the prescription - slowly. People come and go from the store. One coming with a poodle, yes, in the store. Of course, Mikayla wants to see it. Get her back over by me, she sits, and Keegan stands up hitting his head on the corner of a little shelf they've built for people to set their purses, but happens to be at toddler head height. So, while holding Cayden, I'm trying to console him. He wants to be held... then he starts crying harder... and then throws up! So, I'm trying to help him, hold Cayden, and ask the lady for a cup or bucket or something because my son's puking on their floor! Remember the amount of French I speak, that's about how much all the others spoke of English. I was "acting out" vomiting to try and get the ladies behind the counter to help! Keegan vomits again! Finally they gave me some tissues... thanks... then a more helpful one gave me a trash can and some paper towels. She actually came and held Cayden for me so I could help Keegan. I kept saying "merci", "MERCI"! We managed to calm the situation down a bit before leaving... when Mikayla noticed a kids table with books that they could have been looking at the entire time! So, they sat there content while I paid, with Cayden back on my hip, and gathered things to try and get out the door. At least everyone there was smiling once things settled down... not sure if that was polite or happy to see us go?
Thankfully, traffic thinned a bit and we could get to the car ok. Packed the kids in only holding up about six cars. Got out of the parking spot ok and still made it home before the afterwork traffic!
Unfortunately, I have to go back to the pharmacy to pick up the rest of the medicine because they were short a couple bottles! Not sure if they'll let me in!!!
Now, I'm not looking for sympathy by any means... just sharing some of the "real fun" we're having here sometimes too!

Abbey of Villers-la-Ville

These pictures were taken last Saturday. The Abbey was recommended as a "local" sight to see in my "Hints for Living in Belgium" class. So, we took a short drive through Waterloo and found the Abbey down a winding backroad. It's easy to see why it was recommended and that people have pictures for weddings and family photos taken there! The weather was wonderful (warmer than the kids attire makes it appear) and the ruins were absolutely beautiful. I'm anxious to go back when the trees have filled in and the grounds have more color! Apparently it's amazing in Autumn too when the ivy and leaves all change color. Guess we'll be making multiple trips back! Keegan enjoyed exploring the "rooms". Unfortunately Mikayla wasn't feeling well and didn't really appreciate all the walking. We were able to manuever the stroller through most of it, so Cayden could check out most of it too. Here's a link for more information and pictures of the Abbey - http://www.eupedia.com/belgium/villers-la-ville.shtml.

We're waiting for what?

Hello All. Well, we enjoyed a day at the Antwerp Zoo on Saturday and I was hoping to share some of that experience, but I guess that will have to wait. This morning I was reminded what a blessing it is to have Chris bring Mikayla to school. He had an early meeting this morning so the rest of us were headed to ISB.
Ok, so after waking up early with Cayden and having him snuggle back in bed with me, we actually got out of bed late. Good start. Mikayla woke up on her own, so I got her dressed before getting myself ready. At least she looked cute, the rest of us were presentable "enough" to get out the door before 8 and hope to get her to school on time (8:40 - no traffic, 10 minute drive). So we got out and into traffic going and stopping along the way. We made it to the "rocking shape" as the kids call it - a piece of art in the middle of a roundabout in a straight street (poorly pictured above). From there, Keegan knows it's only "two lights and then we're at Mikayla's school". Check the clock, 8:30, still doing ok. Wait through the lights and merging traffic from what I thought was a bicycle only lane and finally turn in to the entrance... what is the back-up about? Finally get up to the parking lot and am directed to the exit lane, even though I still have Mikayla in the car. Directed then to do a U-turn. Nice. Finally in the parking lot... no spots, drive around 10 minutes and then park.. only blocking in a few people - we'll be quick! Drop Mikayla off and find out the parking lot for the high school students is closed, causing the back-up and especially bad parking situation this morning. Nice. Ok, say good-bye to Mikayla, head back to the car. Heading home, back-up at the "rocking shape" turnabout... what now? We're all waiting for a lady to cross with her herd of Shetland ponies! Seriously!?!?! She had four fuzzy ponies on leashes like dogs and was pulling them across the two lanes of traffic fighting the "pony pace" she was obviously dealing with. HA! Now we're back home and I have my second cup of coffee sitting here with me at the computer. The boys are actually occupying themselves quietly at the moment (in the same room)... I think we'll turn on a movie so I can take a shower and try to start my day again : ). I have about an hour before leaving to get her again and hopefully stop for a picture of the "rocking shape" along the way. So what if I hold up a little traffic doing it! Hope you all have a GREAT day!

Out!

We finally made it out of town with the kids over the weekend and got some pictures of something other than the kids just being kids : ).
Saturday we decided to take a drive about an hour south, down to Dinant, Belgium. You can look up information on the town on-line, but we enjoyed a brief walk about the town. The walk was brief for a number of reasons: 3 little kids, no stroller, cold weather, naptime, no stroller, and no plan. We did manage to find a tiny little playground consisting of two slides along the river and the kids were happy with that. We didn't spend much time there either (see above), but managed to bribe them with some cookies bought at a local bakery that town's also supposed to be known for. Chris and I weren't impressed as ours were hard as rocks (likely for dipping in coffee or tea?), but thankfully the kids' was soft enough for them to enjoy. Anyway, back to the town... The town was built on both sides of a river and along cliffs on one side. We actually drove through some of the rock and the kids enjoyed that. The bridge had many large painted saxophones (like the cows or other animals you see around some cities). I learned that was because the inventor of the saxophone was from there. There also was a Citadel on the cliffs overlooking the town, and... there looked like there were some cute shops that I'd like to get back to : ).
From Dinant we drove down to Bastogne. Another very cool looking town that we passed through quickly, but would like to get back to. We drove out to the WWII Monument for the American soldiers who fought there. The monument was very large and impressive. They had a museum there too, but we didn't make it through that. Actually, Mikayla and Chris walked around the monument itself while I stayed with the sleeping boys in the car : ). I can't wait to see what the area looks like in the warmer months when the trees are full and things are a bit more colorful.
Anyways... we got "out" for a drive at least and enjoyed the drive through some towns and the countryside too.
The kids did very well with the drive, so that was encouraging. Mikayla is off school this week for Winter Break, so we're enjoying having her home again. Keegan is Mr. Accident-waiting-to-happen... seriously, if there's something to run into or fall on, he'll find it. Cayden is just exploring his surroundings more and more to find out what he can get into before I catch him. He's also eating more babyfood now and enjoying that.
Well, that's all for now! Take care!